Blogger, cartoonist and mental health advocate Chato B. Stewart turned to art as a way to cope with his depression. In 2004, the Port Charlotte man was diagnosed with bipolar and mood disorders, after a suicide attempt. After recieving treatment, Stewart became a mental health advocate, hoping to raise awareness around an issue that affects one in every four American adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Blogger, cartoonist and mental health advocate Chato B. Stewart shares his struggles with depression and bipolar disorder through his art. In June 2004, the 43-year-old Port Charlotte man attempted suicide. Here, you can see the date of his planned death, which he branded with a hot knife on his left forearm. "I didn't really want to die," he said. "But I didn't know how else to relieve the pain I was feeling inside."

SUN PHOTO BY BRENDA BARBOSABlogger, cartoonist and mental health advocate Chato B. Stewart shares his struggles with depression and bipolar disorder through his art. In June 2004, the 43-year-old Port Charlotte man attempted suicide. Here, you can see the date of his planned death, which he branded with a hot knife on his left forearm. "I didn't really want to die," he said. "But I didn't know how else to relieve the pain I was feeling inside."

SUN PHOTO BY BRENDA BARBOSA

Blogger, cartoonist and mental health advocate Chato B. Stewart shares his struggles with depression and bi-polar disorder through his art. In June 2004, the 43-year-old Port Charlotte man attempted suicide. Here, you can see the date of his planned death which he brand with a hot knife on his left forearm. "I didn't really want to die," he said. "But I didn't know how else to releive the pain I was feeling inside."

ILLUSTRATION BY CHATO B. STEWART

Blogger, cartoonist and mental health advocate Chato B. Stewart turned to art as a way to cope with his depression. In 2004, the Port Charlotte man was diagnosed with bi-polar and mood disorders after an attempted suicide. After recieving treatment, Stewart became a mental health advocate hoping to raise awareness around an issue that affect one in every four American adults according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By BRENDA BARBOSA

Staff Writer

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There’s no doubt in 43-year-old Chato B. Stewart’s mind that he’d be dead if he’d had access to a gun that dreadful night in 2004 when he planned to kill himself.

A powerful cocktail of medications prescribed to treat his depression threw the Port Charlotte man into a hallucinogenic spiral that ultimately landed him in a Sarasota crisis stabilization unit.

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